158 Homecoming

Hogwarts Express, Apr. 9th

As the pair walked down the train, arms full of chocolates and lollies, one of them paused. Staring at the incoming station from out the window Nathan couldn't help but remember the last time he was there, not knowing anything about the Triwizard Tournament or the fact there was some sort of plot that was supposed to take his life.

"Do you know who is here to take to your place?" a voice said, causing Nathan to leave his brooding for later.

"My Mum said she'll probably be busy making a potion, so I'm pretty sure it will be my Dad."

"Well I'm just glad your parents will let me stay with your over the holidays"

"You say that as if there was any doubt they wouldn't let you stay. I mean, it's not like they would let Hermione and Calypso stay but not you" Nathan said, rather confused on why Ron would think he wouldn't be allowed to stay over with him, his brother, and the girls over Easter.

"I guess but what about Harry? Neither of us like each other" Ron said

"Eh," Nathan said while shrugging his shoulders "Here I was thinking that the two of you were finally getting along". And wasn't that the truth. While no one could say that Ron and Harry were best friends or even just friends, they weren't sniping at each other anymore… at least with spells.

At that Ron nodded and it seemed that the conversation had finished and the two fell into a comfortable silence as they kept on walking eventually reaching their compartment a walk in.

When the five of them had first gotten on the train Harry had expanded the compartment when Calypso said it was a bit cramped for five people. Because of this there was a huge amount of room, Hermione had taken over the entire back half of the compartment and had put her books all over the floor - in an orderly system of course. Apparently she was very excited to get to use magic over the holiday. Calypso and Harry were sitting next to each other, in an odd way that looked like they were sitting on top of each other, and were practicing conjuring. Which would explain the goat in the corner that was staring at Hermione's cat-like creature named Crookshanks. It was a young grey kneazle with black stripes and was quite lazy.

As Ron and Nathan walked in the two split up as Nathan grabbed his trunk to put their newly liberated snacks into while Ron sat down on the floor next to Hermione and helped her pack up, Harry said "So what did you two get?"

"A few bags of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, way too many Chocolate Frog, a handful of Liquorice Wand, a box of Crystallised Pineapple and Fizzing Whizzbees" Ron answered from across the compartment.

"You didn't get Pumpkin Pasties?" Calypso asked, pouting sadly.

"Nah, we want this stuff to last over the holidays which Pumpkin Pasties can't do" Nathan replied.

"I still don't understand why you want to hide the lollies. Would your parents take it away from us?" Hermione asked while holding two books in her hands, seemingly trying to choose which one to read.

"No they wouldn't, which makes the whole scheme redundant" Harry said with a laugh, 'accidentally' jolting Calypso which caused her spell go off course and hit Nathan as he was turning around, after having finished putting away the food.

"Sorry Nathan, it was an honest accident" Calypso said before whispering to Harry "You did that on purpose didn't you"

"Maybe" Harry said with a rueful grin.

Once Ron and Nathan had finished packing for Hermione - who had left them to read - there only remained a few minutes off from platform 9 and ¾ so Harry untangled from Calypso and removed the expansion on the compartment and vanish the goat.

As the train slowed down and students started streaming out the group waited a bit longer for the station to clear up before leaving. As they walked off into the crowd with Nathan leading the way and Harry bringing up the rear due to him charm all the trunks to levitate and follow him as they made their way to the brothers father.

"Everyone grab your trunk and the portkey and we can head off straight away" James said once the five teenagers got close enough.

"Hey everyone, how are you all?" Sirius asked standing next to Remus who looked like his was trying to watch the entire platform while Jame finished getting the portkey ready.

"We're fine but it's best to get out of here fast" Harry said loudly from the back of the group.

"He's right Sirius, you can ask embarrassing questions later" Remus remarked as James had finally helped everyone out.

"On three I'll say the key word and we'll be back at home" Remus said, pausing long enough for the words to sink in before say "O--"

"THREE!" Sirius bellowed

"Bananabread" Remus said instinctively, causing the portkey to activate and pulling everyone to Godic's Hollow.

As the Hogwarts students had to pull themselves off the ground with Harry and Calypso helping them up, the three men had already gotten up and started yelling at each other.

"What was that Sirius? Actually why the hell would you active the portkey Remus?"

"I-"

"I panicked. I thought Sirius had saw something" Remus explained

"Fine but that still doesn't exclude you, you mangy mutt"

"It was Mac-"

"What happened?" Lily said, running into the room having heard the yelling, and cut Sirius off again.

Before either James or Remus could answer, Harry said "For some reason Sirius tricked uncle Remus into activating the portkey very fast risking us getting splinched."

"Is that true?" Lily asked Sirius.

"It was Macnair."

"The executioner?" Ron asked.

"And previous Death Eater, who was trying to break through the crowd to get to us" Sirius said, happy to be able to finally explained himself.

At this the adults quietened down until Remus said "I'll go tell Dumbledore"

"Sirius I'm-"

"I'm heading home but the floo will be open" Sirius said and with a loud crack he apparited away, cutting James off.

"You kids go get settled" Lily said as she nodded to James and they went to another room.

The room grew quiet for a few moments before "Does anyone else wish they could end a argument by appariting away?" Calypso asked the others, causing the mood to lighten and everyone laugh as they went to set up the rooms for everyone.